Shopping for baby clothes is fun for new and expecting parents – there’s nothing like seeing your baby out and about in a cute outfit! However, what they wear to sleep is also important for different reasons.
Even though dressing your baby for sleep is not always the focus of a shopping spree, when you’re eventually faced with an extra warm or cold night, you’ll suddenly wonder “how do I dress my baby for sleep?” And it’s good to have what you need on hand.
In this article we’ll answer the most common questions about dressing your baby for sleep, including how to dress your baby for different seasons including summer and winter, and information on when your baby should wear a swaddle or sleep sack to sleep.
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What Should an Infant Wear to Bed?
When it comes to what babies should wear to sleep, a general rule of thumb from experts and healthcare providers is you should dress your baby in one more layer than you’re wearing. This includes during the night, which is why it’s often recommended you swaddle your newborn baby over their clothes and then transition to a sleep sack or wearable blanket when they reach the age where they are showing signs of rolling over. Babies shouldn’t sleep with a blanket until their first birthday.
An example is if you’re wearing just a t-shirt to sleep, your baby should be wearing a nighttime diaper and t-shirt plus a long-sleeved onesie to sleep.
Different types of baby clothes for sleep
Common clothes to dress your baby in for sleep include:
- Baby Gowns: A baby gown is like a pair of pajamas that are open at the bottom. In the early days of newborn life, baby gowns make diaper changing easier and are often comfortable on your newborn's umbilicus (belly button). Baby gowns are also versatile garments: the bottom can be tied closed in colder weather or left open if it’s warmer.
- Footed Sleepers: A more comprehensive type of onesie used often for sleep, footed sleepers are onesies that also have built in socks/shoes to keep your baby’s toes warm. Footed sleepers are popular types of pajamas.
- Onesie: A onesie is a short-sleeved or long-sleeved leotard-like garment for a baby that often snaps or has a zipper open at the bottom or side for easy diaper changes. They often are used as an underlayer to keep baby extra warm.
- Swaddle: Swaddles are classic newborn sleep clothes. Thereare like a cocoon you create from wrapping a square blanket around your baby to keep them warm and snug. You should stop swaddling your baby when they can roll over one way, either front-to-back or back-to-front, a developmental milestone that typically happens around 2 months. After that, swaddling can pose a safety hazard. Health authorities like American Academy of Pediatrics advises against weighted swaddles.
- Sleep Sack: A sleep sack, also known as a wearable blanket, is a garment that is a great option for dressing your baby in to sleep when they grow out of a swaddle. Many parents use a sleep sack to keep their baby warm at night. A sleep sack leaves your baby’s arms out and free, and keeps their legs loosely contained. A sleep sack can be a good alternative to a blanket – sleeping with a blanket is not recommended for babies under 12 months of age.
Remember, all babies under 12 months should be put to sleep on their back.
Fabrics to dress your infant in at night
- Muslin: A soft, natural, loosely woven fabric, muslin is super warm and breathable to keep your baby cozy but well ventilated.
- Jersey Knit: Warm and soft, jersey knit is also stretchy and strong, meaning it allows your little one to move with ease, but the fabric won’t tear.
- Fleece: As you may know from your own wardrobe, fleece is very warm. Some wonder “Is fleece safe for babies?” and the answer is, yes, fleece is safe for babies. In fact, fleece is a popular material for baby blankets and outer layers – it is s best for cooler temperatures.
- Polyester: A synthetic, petroleum-based fabric, polyester is found in a vast variety of apparel out there, including blankets and plush toys.
How to Dress Baby for Sleep Depending on Temperature
Unlike adults or older children, babies’ bodies can’t regulate their own temperature. When you’re thinking about how to dress a newborn for sleep or even an older baby for sleep, you need to consider the season or environment.
Temperature guide for dressing babies at night
Note: “TOG” refers to how warm something keeps you. For example, 1 TOG is perfect for a room 68-75°F (20-23.8°C). 2 togs is for a room 61-68°F (16.1-20°C)
- 80°F (26.66°C): Diaper
- 78°F (25.5°C): Onesie
- 75-77°F (23.8-25°C)-: Onesie + sleep sack (.5 TOG) or swaddle
- 71-74°F (21.66-23.33°C): Sleep sack/swaddle (.5 TOG) + long-sleeved pajamas
- 69-70°F (20.5-21.1°C): Onesie + long-sleeved pajamas + sleep sack/swaddle (1 TOG)
- 64-68°F (17.77-20°C): Long-sleeved onesie + long-sleeved pajamas + sleep sack/swaddle (1 TOG)
- 61-63°F (16.1-17.2°C): Socks + long-sleeved onesie + long-sleeved pajamas + sleep sack/swaddle (2.5 TOG)
- Under 60°F (15.5°C): Mittens + socks + long-sleeved onesie + long-sleeved pajamas + sleep sack/swaddle (2.5 TOG)
Here’s an image of our baby sleep temperature chart to save for later!
How to dress your baby for sleep in winter
On cold nights you may need to dress your baby in more than what the “you plus one layer of clothing” rule says, especially if you live in a drafty or colder home.
Depending on the temperature in the room where your baby sleeps, the answer to, "how many layers should baby sleep?" in could include:
- Diaper and an undershirt (we recommend Pampers Swaddlers which are extra absorbent, made with soft materials , and wick away moisture, which is key to keeping a baby warm, cozy, and comfy)
- Pajamas
- Sleep sack (winter weight or higher TOG rating) or swaddle (age depending)
On a colder night, you may want to use warmer pajamas made of fleece or similarly warm materials to keep them comfortable.
Should newborns wear hats to sleep?
Aside from the first few hours of life, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against hats for babies while they are indoors as it could lead to overheating. That said, since newborns can't yet regulate their temperature, newborn sleepwear should be taken seriously. Ensuring they are not too hot or too cold is especially important when thinking how to dress a newborn for sleep in winter.
How to dress baby for sleep in summer
The ideal room temperature for babies is between 68-72°F (20-22°F), regardless of the weather outside. It’s important that you make sure they’re warm enough without overheating. This temperature is known to help them sleep better, too!
If it’s a warm night outside, and your baby is sleeping in an ideal room temperature, they could wear:
- Diaper
- Lighter long-sleeved pajamas
- Swaddle or light weight sleep sack
Since babies can’t regulate their own heat as well as older kids or adults, it’s important to watch for overheating if it’s very hot outside or if the temperature of their room is above what’s recommended.
Signs of overheating in babies on warm nights
- Red cheeks
- Sweating, especially along their hairline
- Elevated heart rate
- Fussy
- Heat rash
- Hot to the touch
If you’re concerned your baby may be too warm, remove one or more of your baby’s layers to cool them down. If your baby is having other concerning symptoms that could be related to overheating, or symptoms that don’t improve, contact your healthcare provider or seek medical care.
How do I dress my baby to sleep in the AC?
If your baby is sleeping in air conditioning or AC, you should dress them in one extra layer than you are wearing. For example, if you’re wearing pajamas, you could put them in pajamas plus a swaddle or light weight sleep sack.
If your baby is sleeping in air conditioning, be aware of where the air vent is blowing. If it blows directly on your baby, adjust it to blow away from them.
More Ways to Keep Your Baby Safe and Comfortable While Dressed for Sleep
In addition to dressing your baby properly for sleep, other ways to create a safe and sleep-nourishing environment include:
- Noise Machines: White noise machines or brown noise machines mimic the womb and drown out outside noises that may disturb your baby’s sleep, such as traffic or barking dogs.
- Blackout Curtains: Your baby’s circadian rhythm is largely governed by light, and even a little bit of light can wake up your baby in the morning or prevent them from sleeping well during a nap. To help your baby sleep well, install black out curtains in their sleep space.
- Calming Scents: Calming scents such as lavender or chamomile create a soothing environment where your baby feels serene and relaxed for sleep.
- Safe Sleep Space: Your baby should be put to sleep on their back with no soft toys or blankets in their sleep space for their first year of life. As we mentioned, the best sleep temperature for babies to sleep is between 68-72°F (20-22°C).
- Extra Absorbent Diaper: Regardless of the temperature, choosing the right diaper for sleep is key for preventing leaks or discomfort that could lead to unnecessary wakeups. Diapers like Pampers Swaddlers are leak-free for up to 12 hours – if your little one still leaks, we recommend you try sizing up at night.
If you’re looking for additional support with figuring out your baby’s sleep, take this free 3-minute sleep quiz and get a custom plan to address your unique sleep needs and struggles. The Smart Sleep Coach by PampersTM app is used by hundreds of thousands of parents to take the guess work out of sleep schedules and building healthy sleep habits in your little one. Many start sleeping like a dream within the first week!
Final Thoughts
What your baby wears to sleep can majorly affect the quality of their rest, and their safety. Plus, sleep clothes are adorable – and incredibly cozy.
While the rule of thumb is to dress your baby in one extra layer as you, use your best judgement depending on the temperature outside and in your baby’s room, and how your baby seems.
From sleep sacks to warmer pajamas, how you dress your baby for sleep plays a big role in their safety and sleep – and your rest, too!
